Work illuminating tool



May 20, 1941. G. E. MONTGOMERY WORK ILLUMINATING Toonl 'Y Fi-led- March 1, i940 v INVENTOR G25/v f, Ma/vmo/vfky.

Patented May 20,A 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE wom; mmmmrme Toor.

Glen E. Montgomery, Oakland, Calif. Application M'aleh l, 1940, N0. 321,675

1 Claim.

This invention relate: to a work-illuminating tool and has for its principal object the provision of a tool handle for supporting screw driver bits, socket Wrenches, and other tools, in which will be incorporated an electrical illuminating means which will project a Ibeam of light upon the work upon which the tool is being used.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character in which all metallic opaque arms and similar structures will beeliminated from the path of the light beam so that no shadows will be thrown and to so construct the device that the tool holding portion thereof will simultaneously serve as a lens.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detailconstruction of the invention, whichis designed for simplicity, economy, and emciency. These will become more apparent from the following. description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

Fig. i is a perspective view illustrating the improved tool handle with a screw driver bit in place therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the tool with the screw driving bit inserted therein.

Fig. 3 is la perspective view of a screw driver bit which may be employed `with the tool.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vsection through the tool handle.

Fig. 5 is a front end view thereof. v

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the switch plug employed in the handle.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the switch plug locking ring.

The illuminating handle may Ibe used with any suitable tool. It is illustrated for use with a screw driver bit, shown at I0, havinga square shank II and screw bit extremity I2. The handle comprises a hollow outer tube I3 of any desired material preferably of Bakelite or similar hard plastic material. One extremity of the tube I3 is plugged by means of a relatively thick plug of transparent plastic I4, such as "Lumarith" or similar material.

' The transparent plug is moulded or otherwise formed about an imbedded metal ferrule I5. The ferrule is non-circular in shape to prevent rotation of the tool therein, and is preferably square to receive the square shank I I of the screw driver bit I0. The inner face of the plug is formed with (Cl. 2ML-6.46)

a concavlty I6 into which a small, lens-type. electric lamp il projects. Y

The lamp is threaded or forced into a receiving socket I8 on a metallic, belled battery cap I9. The battery cap nts snugly over the foremost cell of a series of dry cell batteries 28 which are slipped into the hollow interior of the tubular handle I3. 'I'he batteries are held in place by means of a rotatable switch disc 2l which is retained in place in the rearward extremities of the handle tube bymeans of an expanding wire ring 22.

The interior face of the disc 2l is provided with a metallic cross strip 23 to which is secured a coiled compression spring 2l. 'I'he spring 25 acts against the bottom of the rearmost vcell and forces all of the cells forwardly to press the lamp Il into its receiving concavity I6. A metallic con-- ductor strip 25 extends longitudinally of the inner wall of the tube I3 and makes electrical contact at its forward extremity with the battery cap I9 and at its rearward extremity with the cross strip 23.

Thus, as the disc 2l is rotated, and it is provided with a nger handle Z6 by means of which it may be rotated, the cross strip can be brought into contact with the conductor strip 25 to close the circuit to the lamp.

It will be noted that the entire forward end of thev handle member is transparent. There are no opaque cross braces or other structure so that no shadows are thrown into the light beam to interfere with clear illumination of the area about the screw, as shown in Fig. 1. a

The screw driver bit is provided with a shoulder 21 which limits the amount of the insertion in the ferrule I5. For extra heavy work, the transparent plug I4 may be keyed to the outer cylinder I3 by means of a suitable locking key 2l.

While a specic form ofthe improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the Invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent isl A work illuminating tool comprising: a hollow outer tube; a relatively long plug of transparent plastic xedly imbedded in the forward extremity of said tube; a hollow, square ferrule permanently imbedded in a socket in the outer face of said plug; a concave socket in the inner face of said plug directly behind said ferrule; a

vseries of dry cells in alignment in said tube; a

5 switching purposes.

cells forwardly to maintain the globe in its concavity; an expanding wire ring for holding said. disc in place; and a finger grip on the external face of said disc .to facilitate its rotation for GLEN E. MONTGOMERY. 

